Ellis Paul joins the family

Saturday Feb 25 was warm, sunny and windy.  We decided to bring Nora to the Denver Zoo for a quick visit before having dinner with friends.

Banging on the drums to get the get the gorilla to come out

I was scheduled to be induced on Tuesday Feb 28, my due date, because Jeff's parents were able to come to CO that day and stay through the weekend.  I knew we'd need the help with Nora, so if the baby didn't come by then, that was the plan.

On Monday, I was having contractions every 10 minutes all day, but they just weren't getting any closer.  After dinner we went for a walk, put Nora to bed, and by 9pm I realized that we'd be heading to the hospital before the 7:30 induction the next morning.  Luckily we have a wonderful neighbor who came over and slept at our house and brought Nora to daycare the next morning!

We headed to the hospital around 11:00 pm, were admitted and began a long night with no sleep.  Ellis Paul was born at 6:26 am, and we couldn't be happier!

Immediately after birth

We were all pretty shocked when he weighed in at 8lb 4oz!  That is two full pounds heavier than Nora, and my doctor had, only by looking at my belly, estimated the baby to be about 7lb!!  I'm not sure where he was hiding in there, all 21 1/4 inches.

Nora after birth, do they look alike?

Like the pediatrician said-you'd be dry and wrinkly too after 9 months in the hot tub!

Boxing

All clean after his bath!

 Jeff's parents, without even knowing I was having contractions all day Monday, decided to leave Monday night instead of Tuesday morning to come to CO.  They drove across Wyoming late into the night and finished the drive Tuesday morning.  They were able to pick up Nora from daycare in the early afternoon and bring her to the hospital.

 Nora gets her first peeks at Ellis.

Jeff and I got a pretty good laugh in when Ellis was too small for his going home outfit, the same one that was huge on Nora!  It didn't really cover his shoulders, and we couldn't button the top button!

Ellis

 Remember Jeff's plan with the pink car seat accessories?  It worked!

Leaving the hospital.

Lots of cuddling.

Putting lotion on his chapped chin.

We tried, somewhat unsuccessfully to take some family photos.

 
Meanwhile, Nora is up to her same silly games.  She is adjusting pretty well and doesn't seem too jealous, yet.  She's been acting up a bit, but is doing pretty well.   She's having trouble remembering that she's the big sister and Ellis is the little brother.  She calls him her 'little brother sister' :)

Play-doh mask

Drawing on her new white board

We've had lots of help from  Rich, Carol and neighbors with Nora, food, etc which has been so great!  My parents are coming Friday so we'll have more help before reality sets in.  So far, Ellis has been very sleepy during the day  We've had a few rough nights, but the last two have been pretty good except that we cannot get him to bed before 11:30 pm!  This night owl habit doesn't fit into our household very well.